Device for projecting moving time indications



M. J. JOHNSON DEVICE FOR PROJECTING MOVING TIMEJNDICATIONS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 14, 1944.

Filed Jan. 4; 1944 hive/7150f Manfred I Jab/7,90

Nov. 14, 1944. M. J. JOHNSON 2,352,754

DEVICE FOR PROJEGTING MOVING TIME-INDICATIONS Filed Jan. 4, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I 49\ 5 5 EB H z? 0/7? egg Patented Nov. 14, 1944 UNITEDSTATES =PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR PROJECTING MOVING TIME INDICATIONSManfred J. Johnson, New Haven, Conn., asslgnor to The United States TimeCorporation, a corporation of Connecticut Application January 4, 1944,Serial No. 516,988

, 7 Claims.

i to provide a superior device of the character referred to, wherebytime-indications may be projected in both an accurate and entertainingman- Anotherobject of the present invention is to provide a superiordevice for projecting moving time-indications and which, in addition toprojecting such time-indications, will also project portions of theinterconnecting gear-members and the like in such manner as to give theentertaining and puzzling impression that one or more members of suchgear-train are floating in space.

A further object is to provide a superior device of the characterreferred to, whereby the indicators may be readily and convenientlyadjusted with respect to each other to properly coordinate theirrespective indications.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to thoseskilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includesall features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out thepresent invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a face view of one form of device for projecting movingtime-indications. in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a broken detail sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a similar, but less comprehensive, view taken on either one ofthe lines 4-4 of Fig. l;

plate ll forming a feature of a synchronous electric motor generallydesignated by the reference character l2 and having the usual twoterminalleads l3 and H which may be connected into any suitable sourceof alternating current such, for instance, as 110 volt GO-cyclealternating current. The said synchronous motor may be of any suitableform and does not require detailed description herein other than to notethat it is pro- 10 vided with a rearwardly-extending drive-shaft l5propelled, in the instance shown, at 450 R.'P. M.

The drive-shaft i5 extends rearwardly through the adjacent portion ofthe assembly-plate l and carries a drive-pinion l6 meshing into anddriving a gear-wheel ll rotatably mounted on the rear face of theassemblyplate I 0. The said gear-wheel i'l carries a concentric pinionl8 which is turn, meshes into and drives a gearwheel 19 carrying aconcentric-pinion 20. The

20 pinion 20 just referred to meshes into and drivesperipherally-toothed seconds-wheel 23 located adjacent the rear face ofthe upper portion of the assembly-plate l0 and the rear face of arectangular transparent dial-plate 24, which latter is rigidly coupledat its lower portion to the front face of the upper portion of theassembly-plate H), as is indicated in the drawings. The said dial-plate24 has printed upon or otherwise applied, to its front face a usualannular series of minute and hour designations or indicia 25, as

shown in Fig. 1.

In the particular construction shown, the speed of the drive-shaft l5 ofthe synchronous motor I2 is such that, through the intermediary of thetime-train (comprising the parts l6 to 22 inclusive), the said shaftserves to drive the secondswheel 23 at a speed of 1 R, P. M.

The seconds-wheel 23 is rigidly mounted upon a bushing-like hub 26 whichin turn, is rigidly mounted upon the rear end of a seconds-arbor Thesaid hub 26 is provided with a rear wardly-extending externally-threadedtubular portion 28 of suiliciently-smaller diameter than the mainportion of the said hub to provide a rearwardly-facing friction-shoulder29. Located adjacent the said friction-shoulder 28 is the inner portionof a seconds-pointer 30 extending radially outwardly to a pointsubstantially corresponding to the radius of the minute-divisions of theindicia or markings 25 on the dial-plate 24. In the construction shown,the said secends-hand is located very materially to the rear of thedial-plate 24, upon the forward face of which the said indicia ormarkings 25 are located.

The inner portion of the seconds-pointer 33 above referred to, isrigidly clamped against the adjacent forward face of a tubularhub-member 3| which frictionally bears against the friction-shoulder 23of the hub 26. Fitting within the hub-member 3| is a helical spring 32thrusting at its forward end against the adjacent bottom wall of thehollow interior of the said hubmember and thrusting at its rear endagainst the forward face of an adjusting-nut 33 threadedly connected tothe externally-threaded outer end of the tubular portion 28 of the hub26. thus constructed and arranged, the spring 33 presses the forwardface of the hub-member 3| of the seconds-pointer 30 into frictionalengagement with the friction-shoulder 29 of the hub 26 of theseconds-wheel 23. In this manner, the seconds-pointer 30 is frictionallycoupled to the seconds-wheel 23 for concurrent movement therewith, butin such manner as to be adjustable with respect thereto in an annulardirection.

The forward end of the seconds-arbor 21 is journaled in a transparentfront movement-plate 34 located in front of a complemental transparentrear movement-plate 35. The complemental movement-plates 34 and 35 areboth located in front of the dial-plate 24 and are held in spacedparallel relationship with respect to each other by means of two (moreor less) spacing-washers 36-35 (Fig.1). The rear movement-plate 35 isspaced forwardly of the dial-plate 24 by two spacing sleeves 31-31, oneof which is located in axial alignment with a given one of the aforesaidspacing-washers 3536.

For the purpose of coupling the two movementplates 34 and 35 togetherand for coupling both thereof to the dial-plate 24, two screws 3838 areemployed, a given one of which is extended rearwardly through the frontmovement-plate 34, thence through a spacing-washer 36, through the rearmovement-plate 35, thence through the aligned one of the spacing-sleeves31-31 and into threaded engagement with the dial-plate 24.

Located intermediate the front movement-plate 34 and the rearmovement-plate 35 and rigidly coupled to the adjacent portion of thesecondsarbor 21, is a seconds-pinion 33. The said seconds-pinion 33meshes into and drives a gearwheel 43 which is igidly mounted upon ashaft 41 journaled in both of the movement-plates 34 and 35. At a pointto the rear of the rear movement-plate 35, the shaft 4| has rigidlymounted thereon a pinion 42 which meshes into and drives a minute-wheel4:. The said minute-wheel 4b is driven through the chain of partsreferred to at a speed of 1. R. P. H., and is mounted upon the rearportion of a minute-sleeve 44 rotatably mounted upon a bearing-sleeve45. The said bearing-sleeve is rigidly mounted at its forward end in therear movement-plate 35 and extends rearwardly therefrom through thedial-plate 24 so that its interior constitutes a bearing for theseconds-arbor 21, while its exterior provides a. bearing for the saidminute-sleeve 44.

As before noted, the minute-wheel 43 is mounted upon the rear portion ofthe minute-sleeve 44, but instead of being rigidly attached thereto thesaid minute-wheel is frictionally coupled to the said minute-sleeve. Thefrictional coupling referred to is accomplished by means of a flexibleface of-the minute-wheel 43 and the forward face of a minute-pinion 41which is rigidly mounted upon the minute-sleeve 44. At its rear end, theminute-sleeve 44 has rigidly mounted upon it a minute-pointer 43turning, as usual, at 1 R. P. H.

The minute-pinion 41 before referred to. meshes into and drives agear-wheel 43 mounted with freedom for rotation upon a stud 53 pro-Jecting rearwardly from the rear movement-plate 35. The gear-wheel 43has rigidly secured to its rear face a pinion II which meshes into anddrives an hour-wheel 52. The said hour-wheel 52 is rigidly mounted uponthe forward end of an hour-sleeve 53 which is rotatably mounted upon theadjacent portion of the minute-sleeve 44 and extends rearwardly throughthe dial-plate 24, as indicated in Fig. 3. At a point intermediate theminute-pointer 43 and the dial-plate 24, the hour-sleeve 53 rigidlymounts an hour-pointer 54 of any suitable design and turning, as usual,

at R. P. H.

For the purpose of resetting the minute-pointer 48 and the hour-pointer54, a knurled settingfriction-washer 46 interposed between the rear 15button 55 is located adjacent the front face of the front movement plate34, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. The said setting-button is rigidlymounted upon the forward end of a setting-shaft 55 extending rearwardlythrough and bearing in both of the movement-plates 34 and 35. Adlaeentits rear end and at a point intermediate the rear movement-plate 35 andthe dial-plate 24, the said setting-shaft has rigidly mounted thereon asetting-pinion 51 which meshes into the gear-wheel 49. By turning thesetting-button 55, the minute-pointer 4B and the hour-pointer 54 may bereset, due to the frictional coupling of the minute-sleeve 44 to itsminute-wheel 43, which frictional coupling permits the minutesleeve 44,the hour-sleeve 53, and associated parts to be turned independently ofthe drive-mechanism connected to the said minute-wheel 43.

The seconds-pointer 30 may be reset as desired by grasping the knurledrear end of the hubmember 3| of the said seconds-pointer and rotatingthe same to overcome the frictional coupling between the said hub-member3| (forming part of the seconds-pointer 30) and the hub 23 of theseconds-wheel 23.

When the device above described is placed intermediate a suitablelight-source and a screen, so that the light passes in the directionindicated in Fig. 2, a silhouette of the features of the upper portionof the device will be thrown onto the screen in a manner indicated inFig. 5. It is preferred to use a suitable opaque mask such as 53,indicated by broken lines in Fig. .2, so that any parts materiallybeyond the markings or indicia 25 on the dial-plate 24 will bemasked-out.

Since the seconds-wheel 23, dial-plate 24 and movement-plates 34 and 35are transparent, the remaining relatively-non-transparent parts willappear in silhouette on the screen as described.

Preferably, the parts 23, 24, 34 and 35 will be formed of acrystal-clear transparent material such as crystal-clear Lucite, thoughif desired attractive tints may be given any or all of the said parts.Preferably, the various gears, pinions, and the like will be formed ofopaque material such as brass, but here again it is obvious thatsemitransparent materials may be .used for these parts, since theirsilhouettes will appear upon the screen if they be but relativelynon-transparent as compared to the parts 23, 24', 34 and 35 abovereferred to;

The device above described when projected on a screen or the like, willshow various of the parts in motion at diiferent rates of speed and insuch manner that the gearing, etc., appears to be suspended in space.Thus, not only may accurate time-indications be given to an audience butentertainment may also be afforded such audience insofar as the audienceis intrigued by the silhouettes of the moving parts of the mechanism.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than thoseherein set forth without departing from the spirit and essentialcharacteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A device for projecting moving time-indications, including incombination: a stationary transparent dial-plate carrying a ring oftimeindicia; a transparent wheel mounted adjacent and in substantialparallelism with the said dialplate and turningsubstantially-concentrically with respect to the ring of time-indiciathereof; a synchronous electric motor positioned outwardly beyond thering of time-indicia carried by the said dial-plate and operativelyconnected to a peripheral portion of the said wheel to turn the same;transparent gear-supporting means also mounted adjacent and insubstantial parallelism with the said transparent dial-plate andextending within the ring of time-indicia carried thereby; a firsttime-indicator driven by the said wheel in position for movement withinthe boundary of the ring of time-indicia carried by the said transparentdial-plate and relatively-opaque as compared to the said dial-plate,wheel and gear-supporting means; a second time-indicator positioned formovement within the boundary of the ring of time-indicia carried by thesaid dial-plate and relatively-opaque as compared to the saiddial-plate, wheel and gear-supporting means; and a gear-trainoperatively interconnecting the said first time-indicator and the saidsecond time-indicator and located within the boundary of the ring oftime-indicia carried by the said dial-plate, the said gear-train beingrelatively-opaque as compared to the said gear-supporting means, thesaid wheel and the said dial-plate.

2. A device for projecting moving time-indications, including incombination: a stationary transparent dial-plate carrying a ring oftimeindicia; a transparent seconds-wheel mounted adjacent and insubstantial parallelism with the said dial-plate and turningsubstantially-concentrically with respect to the ring of time-indiciathereof; a synchronous electric motor positioned outwardly beyond thering of time-indicia carried by the said dial-plate andoperativelyconnected to a peripheral portion of the said seconds-wheel to turn thesame at one R. P. M.;

transparent gear-supporting means also mounted adjacent and insubstantial parallelism with the said transparent dial-plate andextending within the ring of time-indicia carried thereby; aseconds-indicator driven by the second secondswheel in position formovement within the boundary of the ring of time-indicia carried by thesaid transparent dial-plate and relatively-opaque as compared to thesaid dial-plate, seconds-wheel and gear-supporting means; atime-indicator positioned for movement within the boundary of the ringof time-indicia carried by the said dialplate and relatively-opaque ascompared to the said dial-plate, seconds-wheel and gear-supportingmeans; and a gear-train operatively interconnecting the saidseconds-indicator and the said time-indicator and located within theboundary of the ring of time-indicia carried by the said dial-plate, thesaid gear-train being relatively-opaque as compared to the saidgear-supporting means, the said seconds-wheel and the said dial-plate.

, 3. A device for projecting moving time-indications, including incombination: a stationary transparent dial-platecarrying a ring oftimeindicia; a transparent wheel mounted adjacent and in substantialparallelism with the said dialplate and turningsubstantially-concentrically with respect to the ring of time-indiciathereof; a synchronous electric motor positioned outwardly beyond thering of time-indicia carried by'the said dial-plate and operativelyconnected to a peripheral portion of the said wheel to turn the same;transparent gear-supporting means also mounted adjacent and insubstantial parallelism with the said transparent dial-plate andextending within the ring of time-indicia carried thereby; a firsttime-indicator mounted for movement within the boundary of the ring oftimeindicia carried by the said transparent dial-plate andrelatively-opaque as compared to the said dial-plate, wheel andgear-supporting means; friction-means yieldingly coupling the said firsttime-indicator to the said transparent wheel with capacity foradjustment with respect thereto; a second time-indicator positioned formovement within the boundary of the ring of time-indicia carried by thesaid dial-plate and relativelyopaque as compared to the said dial-plate,wheel and gear-supporting means; and a gear-train operativelyinterconnecting the said first timeindicator and the said secondtime-indicator and located within the boundary of the ring oftimeindicia carried by the said dial-plate, the said gear-train beingrelatively-opaque as compared to the said gear-supporting means, thesaid wheel and the said dial-plate.

4. A device for projecting moving time-indications, including incombination: a stationary transparent dial-plate carrying a ring oftime-indicia; a transparent seconds-wheel mounted adjacent and insubstantial parallelism with the said dial-plate and turningsubstantially-concentrically with respect to the ring of time-indiciathereof; a synchronous electric motor positioned outwardly beyond thering of time-indicia carried by the said dial-plate and operativelconnected to a peripheral portion of the said sec,- onds-wheel to turnthe same at one R. P. M.; transparent gear-supporting means also mountedadjacent and in substantial parallelism with the said transparentdial-plate and extending within the ring of time-indicia carriedthereby; a seconds-indicator mounted in/position for movement within theboundary of the ring of timeindicia carried by the said transparentdial-plate and relatively-opaque as compared to the said dial-plate,seconds-wheel and gear-supporting means; friction-means yieldinglyconnecting the said seconds-indicator to the said transparentseconds-wheel with capacity for adjustment with respect thereto; atime-indicator positioned for movement within the boundary of the ringof time-indicia carried by the said dial-plate and relatively-opaque ascompared to the said dialplate, seconds-wheel and gear-supporting means;and a gear-train operatively interconnecting the said seconds-indicatorand the said time-inditransparent dial-plate carrying a ring oftimeindicia; a transparent wheel mounted adjacent and in substantialparallelism with the said dialplate and turningsubstantially-concentrically with respect to the ring of time-indiciathereof; a synchronous electric motor positioned outwardly beyond thering of time-indicia carried by the said dial-plate and operativelyconnected to a pe-,

. ripheral portion of the said wheel to turn the same; transparentgear-supporting means also mounted adjacent and in substantialparallelism with the said transparent dial-plate and extending withinthe ring of time-indicia carried thereby; a first time-indicator mountedfor movement within the boundary of the ring of time-indicia carried bythe said transparent dial-plate and relatively-opaque as compared to thesaid dialplate, wheel and gear-supporting means; first friction-meansyieldingly coupling the said first time-indicator to the saidtransparent wheel with capacity for adjustment with respect thereto; asecond time-indicator positioned for movement within the boundary of thering of time-indicia carried by the said dial-plate and relativelyopaqueas compared to the said dial-plate, wheel and gear-supporting means; anddriving-means yieldingly interconnecting the said first time-indicatorand the said second time-indicator and dial-plate, seconds-wheel andgear-supporting means; first friction-means yieldingly connecting thesaid seconds-indicator tothe said transparent seconds-wheel withcapacity for adjustment with respect thereto; a time-indicatorpositioned for movement within the boundary of the ring of time-indiciacarried by the said dlal-' plate and relatively-opaque as compared tothe said dial-plate, seconds-wheel and gear-supporting means; anddriving-means yieldingly operatively interconnecting the saidseconds-indicator and the said time-indicator and including secondfriction-means and a gear-train located within the boundary of the ringof time-indicia carried by the said dial-plate, the said geartrain beingrelatively-opaque as compared to the said gear-supporting means, thesaid secondswheel and the said dial-plate.

7. A device for projecting moving time-indications, including incombination: a stationary transparent dial-plate carrying a ring oftime-indicia; a transparent seconds-wheel having gearteeth upon itsperiphery and mounted adjacent and in substantial parallelism with thesaid dialplate and turning substantially-concentrically with respect tothe ring of time-indicia thereof; a synchronous electric motorpositioned outwardly beyond the ring of time-indicia carried by the saiddial-plate and operatively connected to the gear-teeth on the peripheryof the said secondswheel to turn the same at one R. P M.; transparentgear-supporting means also mounted adincluding second friction -meansand a gear-train located within the boundary of the ring of timeindiciacarried by the said dial-plate, the said gear-train being,relatively-opaque as compared to the said gear-supporting means, thesaid wheel and the said dial-plate.

6. A device for projecting moving time-indications, including incombination: a stationary transparent dial-plate carrying a ring oftimeindicia; a transparent seconds-wheel mounted adjacent andinsubstantial parallelism with the said dial-plate and turningsubstantially-concentrically with respect to the ring of time-indiciathereof; a synchronous electric motor positioned outwardly beyond thering of time-indicia carried by the said dial-plate and operativelyconnected toa peripheral portion of the said secends-wheel to turn thesame at one R. P. M.; transparent gear-supporting means also mountedadjacent and in substantial parallelism with the said transparentdial-plate and extending within the ring of time-indicia carriedthereby; a seconds-indicator mounted in position for movement within theboundary of the ring of time-indicia carried by the said transparentdial-plate and relatively-opaque as compared to the said jacent and insubstantial parallelism with the said transparent dial-plate andextending within the ring of the time-indicia carried thereby; aseconds-indicator mounted in position for movement within the boundaryof the ring of timeindicia carried by the said transparent dialplate;first friction-means yieldingly coupling the said seconds-indicator tothe said secondswheel for turning movement therewith at one R, P. M.; aminute-indicator positioned for movement within the boundary of the ringof timeindicia carried by the said dial-plate; an hourindicator alsopositioned for movement within the boundary of the ring of time-indiciacarried by the said dial-plate; and driving-means operativelyinterconnecting the said minute-indicator and the said hour-indicator tothe said seconds-wheel for being driven thereby respectively at one R.P. H. andone-twelfth R. P. H., the said driving-means including secondyielding friction-means and also including a plurality of gears locatedwithin the boundary of the ring of time-indicia carried by the saiddial-plate; the said seconds-indicator, the said minute-indicator, thesaid hour-indicator and the said plurality of gears beingrelatively-opaque as compared to the said gear-supporting means, thesaid secondswheel and the said dial-plate.

MANFRED J. JOHNSON.

